Where are you going to draw the line? It just looks like there’s going to be one after another.”

Robyn Younkin, West Passage Drive

PORTSMOUTH — Concept review plans for two commercial solar arrays along West Main Road were presented to the Planning Board last week, as several abutters voiced their concerns.

The two proposals arrive just a month after the Town Council, on Dec. 14, approved a solar ordinance as an amendment to the zoning ordinance. The ordinance allows solar arrays of various sizes in certain residential and commercial districts as long as they satisfy guidelines such as minimum setback requirements and vegetation buffers, and receive a special-use permit by the Zoning Board of Review.

The Planning Board, which gives advisory opinions to the zoning board for special-use permit applications and for applications requiring a variance to the zoning ordinance, reviewed two pre-application/informal concept designs on Jan. 13. 

One of the proposals is for a 3.16-megawatt, direct-current (DC) ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) development on property less than a 10th of a mile north of Russo Road on the east side of West Main Road. West Main Solar 1 is listed as the applicant and the owner is Zaugg Marion Trustee & Regal, LLC.

The other proposal is for a 3.1-megawatt, DC ground-mounted solar PV development abut a 10th of a mile south on Lehigh Terrace, also on the east side of West Main Road. The applicant is West Main Solar 2, LLC, and the owner is Regal, LLC.

Planning Board Chairman Guy Bissonnette reminded everyone that the applicants were merely presenting their conceptual plans, to see what the board and residents thought of the idea and to collect feedback for possible modifications. A “full-blown petition” will come at a later date, he said.

“There is another bite at the apple on this,” Mr. Bissonnette assured residents.

Scott Milnes, president of Econox Renewables in Newport, a company that develops renewable energy projects and was hired by the owners, said he understands there’s a “lot of sensitivity” about where the arrays are located.

“The Navy base project is kind of in your face,” he said of the large solar array being constructed along West Main and Stringham roads, and which did not require town review.

The West Main Solar 1 proposal is located in a commercial/light industrial district. Buffers of at least 50 feet from a property line are required, but the proposal exceeds that, he said.

Andrew Vardakis, a senior civic engineer at Wood, a Providence company working with the developer, said the site is currently undeveloped and covered mostly with trees. The plan calls for 7,500 modules in the center of the property, with eight acres of solar arrays on 18 acres of land. About 12 acres will be cleared of trees.

The other solar array, further north, is located in a residential R-20 zone and is comprised of 24 acres. “Of that 24 acres, the project is about seven and a half acres,” said Mr. Vardakis.

There would be concrete pads for the arrays, but no actual structures, he said, as the inverters are placing directly within the racking.

The six-foot fences at both sites would feature six inches of clearance underneath to allow for the passage of wildlife, he said. When it comes to the visuals, noise and lighting, both developments are designed to “minimize impacts to neighbors,” Mr. Vardakis said.

Mr. Milnes was asked about the similarities between these proposed solar arrays and the one being built by the Navy nearby. “This is probably a smaller project and we’re well screened compared to that site,” he said. “The Navy project has no buffer at all; they’re right up against the road.” 

Abutters speak out

Portsmouth Residents for Responsible Solar, a citizens group made up of about 40 residents of the Hilltop Road area, has filed a legal challenge to the new ordinance approved by the Town Council. Several of its members spoke up at last week’s meeting, including Robyn Younkin of West Passage Drive.

Ms. Younkin, who said she has a clear view of the field where West Main Solar 1 would be, said the 50-foot setback isn’t sufficient. “All of the neighbors wold benefit by a larger buffer,” she said.

She and other neighbors also raised concerns about water runoff. “I’m afraid that if you clear this property, there’s going to be (stormwater runoff) going right into the Melville (School)’s parking lot,” Ms. Younkin said.

Ms. Younkin also expressed concerns over the clearing of large swaths of trees and the impact that would have on local wildlife. The idea of a fence that would allow a mouse or rabbit to pass under, but not much else, is “ridiculous,” she added.

Chris Amesbury of Anselmo Drive expressed similar concerns regarding wildlife. “With such limited undeveloped land on the island, it would great to learn what kind of impact this structure will have on the wildlife,” he said.

Ms. Younkin, who said she doesn’t believe the proposed arrays are consistent with the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan, asked members of the Planning Board how many of these solar developments they would allow along West Main Road. 

“Where are you going to draw the line?” she said. “I’m just dismayed as to why the Planning Board is allowing these things to happen in our neighborhoods. It just looks like there’s going to be one after another.”

Mr. Bissonnette said while he sympathized with neighbors’ concerns, all applicants have the right to propose their plans under the solar ordinance and have a fair hearing. He also urged residents to attend upcoming hearings on the updated Comprehensive Community Plan.

“I understand your angst, but they have certain rights as property owners,” he said, adding that issues such as surface water runoff must be addressed by all applicants. 

“You still have to make sure there isn’t an increase in runoff from that area,” he told the applicants, noting that the Planning Board requires developers to prepare for a 100-year storm — a greater requirement than in most other municipalities.

As for increasing the buffers, “Maybe they’ll do something about that. That’s why we’re having the meetings,” Mr. Bissonnette said. Mr. Milnes, for his part, said the developers are willing to consider additional buffers when appropriate.

Not targeting Portsmouth

He also denied that Portsmouth, in particular, was being targeted for commercial solar arrays.

“It’s not just Portsmouth; it’s throughout the state,” Mr Milnes said. “The state is pushing for renewable energy.” 

There are also not many sites other than the two currently before the Planning Board that are a good fit for similar solar projects, he said.

“Most of the farmers like to keep the land they have. If you go up and down East and West Main roads, there really isn’t a lot of opportunities,” he said.

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